Superquinn with a difference is chain's 19th outlet

Superquinn is to open its 19th supermarket in the State next Tuesday at the new Castletroy Shopping Centre outside Limerick.

The £15.5 million (€20m) investment in a 31,000 sq ft premises represents a departure from the traditional Superquinn store, Senator Feargal Quinn said.

"There is nothing the same. Everything is different.

"We really have put a huge amount of thought and investment and creative thinking into it," he said.

The store was purchased outright from the developer, Paddy Hoare, who has a further 22 units for renting.

"We are the ones with the experience of shopping centres.

"Therefore, we have been able to give him the advice of shopping centres such as Lucan and Blackrock."

Superquinn, Limerick, will employ 270 people, just four of whom are existing Superquinn staff who moved from other stores.

The store's new features will include a self-scan facility for customers, meaning that they will not need to queue at check-outs. Senator Quinn also hopes it will encourage use of the store's reusable "green bag".

"It is environmentally friendly. Customers are expected to put the product into the box or bag they are carrying, and it will encourage people to use the 'green bag'."

The 15th Tusa outlet, Superquinn's in-store bank, will also open at the centre.

Other features include a walk-in bakery for customers so that they will be surrounded by the smell of baking bread. At the butcher's counter, employees will give cooking tips to customers.

"There is a recognition that the modern customer has no time to cook, or often is too tired to cook and, thirdly, is not able to cook." The centre has a 700-space car-park and will serve the east side of the city including a large student population at the University of Limerick.

The centre's manager will be Mr Niall Broughan who formerly managed Superquinn, Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Colin Varley, of Pat Chesser Auctioners, said 60 per cent of the units were let. Among the tenants, terms have been agreed with a pharmacy, a newsagent's, a florist and a health-food shop.

"We are currently negotiating with fashion retailers and children's clothing retailers. McDonalds is also locating on the site."

Rents of between £35 and £40 (€44.44-€50.79) per sq ft are being quoted.

Meanwhile, Senator Quinn remarked that he had been corrected by the Limerick East TD, Mr Des O'Malley, when he said he had made his first venture west of the Shannon.

"We are a few hundred metres east of the Shannon. We have a site in Galway which we hope to develop at some point in the future."

Planning permission for the site in Knocknacarra has been applied for.